Jay Panzer is a 1994 graduate of Central High School. While attending Central High School, Jay participated in the tennis and hockey programs. Starting in the seventh grade, Jay played tennis at Central High School for six years. During that time, he played doubles with his brother Jeff where they won the state doubles championship in 1992. During his sophomore and senior years, they placed fifth at state in doubles competition. As a hockey player, Jay played on state runner-up teams during his freshman and senior years. In his junior year, he was member of the state championship team.

After high school, Jay played one year of hockey in the United States Hockey League with Sioux City before attending the University of North Dakota, where he graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. At UND he participated on the hockey team where he was a four year letter winner (1995- 1999). He was a member of three WCHA regular season championship teams and the 1997 National Championship team. During his hockey career at UND, he played in 143 games with fifty-eight goals, eighty-six assists and 114 points. In 1999, he was a second team All- American. Following UND, Jay played one year professionally with Greenville in the East Coast Hockey League where he had eleven goals and twenty-three assists in forty-five games.

Jay currently lives in Grand Forks and is a Financial Advisor. He is also a member of the Grand Forks Park District Board of Directors.